Prentiss County Booneville ends water fluoridation
McNairy County Teenager becomes national finalist
Iuka Battlefield hosts Veteran’s Day Program
Page 3
Page 3
Page 3
Thursday Nov. 5,
2015
75 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 265
Mostly cloudy Today
Tonight
78
68
40% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • One Section
Prison contraband inventory Police Alcorn Regional list includes tattoo guns, Nike Air Jordans, fleece jackets BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Contraband is a never-ending battle in the corrections industry, according to Mississippi Department of Corrections Director of Communications Grace Fisher. MDOC agents found a large amount of contraband items during the Oct. 29 shakedown and removal of state inmates at the Alcorn Regional Correctional Facility. The MDOC has released the inventory of the massive amount of contraband found in the local prison raid. The removal came on the heals of an investigation by the state auditor’s office that cited public safety as the main reason for the shutdown. Among the items uncovered, agents found two sets of master keys to the facility. Although Alcorn Board of Supervisors President Lowell Hinton said the keys no longer worked, MDOC agents said the keys fit the commissary and the front door of the South Harper Road jail. Agents also uncovered cell phones, knives, shanks, razors, tobacco and tattoo guns. “I know contraband is something all prisons have a problem with,” said Hinton, following the MDOC’s shakedown. Hinton said jail staff performed routine shakedowns and discovered contraband on a regular basis. “The battle with contraband in the corrections industry is never ending,” Fisher added.
arrest armed robber BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Zack Steen
Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Marshall Fisher and Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering address the media following the Oct. 29 shakedown and removal of inmates at the Alcorn Regional Correctional Facility. “Any contraband found in a prison facility is a danger to public safety. There is no formula to say -- any amount is too little or too much for any size facility.” Agents inventoried their contraband findings following their Alcorn site visit. The following items were seized either on an inmate or inside a jail cell: ■ 44 cell phones ■ 30 ear buds ■ 22 cell phone chargers ■ 5 free world knives ■ 6 cans of smokeless tobacco ■ 3 bottles of tattoo ink ■ 2 tattoo guns ■ Assorted batteries ■ 5 shanks
■ 7 large bags and 31 small bags of tobacco, approximately 20 pounds ■ 30 packs top papers ■ 2 Old Navy fleece jackets ■ 1 pair Nike Air Jordan’s ■ 3 digital scales ■ 16 lighters ■ 1 pack of Black and Mild ■ Small bag of white pills ■ A few assorted over-thecounter medication ■ 10 small pieces of paper containing crystal like substance ■ 3 pairs of dice ■ 9 MP3 players ■ 5 headphones ■ 5 individual Marlboro cigarettes ■ 1 sock
■2
pairs of shower shoes ash trays ■ 1 padlock ■ 3 earthly rocks The county faces a lost of more than $442,000 if inmates are not returned by January. According to Hinton, Sheriff Charles Rinehart was in charge of the jail at the time of the suspension. MDOC has said state inmates would not be returned to Alcorn County until after the new administration is in place. Independent candidate Ben Caldwell won Tuesday’s general election bid for sheriff. He is set to take office in January. ■ Numerous
Corinth police has nabbed the suspect in the Oct. 30 Buck’s 66 armed robbery. Jacerious Mcintyre, 17, of 1115 Swayer Road, Apt. C, was arrested late Monday and is currently being held on a $50,000 bond in the Alcorn County Jail. Around 1:10 a.m. Oct. 30, officers responded to a 911 call regarding an armed robbery at Buck’s 66 on U.S. Highway 72 West in Corinth. The suspect approached two women in the store and instructed the clerk to open the register. The man, who displayed a pistol, made off with about $85 in cash and several packs of cigarettes and cigars. Chief Ralph Dance said detectives and night shift officers executed a search warrant of the suspect’s apartment and found some of the items taken from the robbery. “They also recovered the gun used in the robbery inside the apartment,” said Dance. Please see ROBBER | 3
Strong in Lee County, Weddle wins Main Street hosts Holiday Open House BY STEVE BEAVERS
Alcorn Itawamba Lee Monroe Pontotoc Prentiss Tishomingo
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
Spreading the joy of the Christmas season while showcasing local businesses and restaurants as well as their unique gifts and tasty fares, Main Street Corinth will present their 2015 Holiday Open House on Saturday, Nov. 7. Jammed-packed with trunk shows, in-store discounts and specials throughout the town, shoppers can expect a festive weekend of food, music, browsing and fun. “We are blessed to have a lot going on this Friday and Saturday,” said Main Street Corinth Director Brent Johnson. “I encourage everyone – if you have a favorite shop or boutique to check out their pages on social media to see what they may have planned.” “Downtown Corinth is filled with home goods, women and children’s clothing boutiques, gift shops, men’s apparel and
Crown Royal $ 99 1.75 L
46
so much more,” he added. “This weekend will boast a little bit of something for everyone and will serve as a wonderful opportunity to purchase gifts for family, friends and loved ones.” In addition to savings and a variety of merchandise from which to choose, patrons will be serenaded with Christmas carols at 6 p.m. on the corner of Fillmore and Foote streets as a soft choir encourages all to get into the holiday spirit. Glittering Christmas trees will illuminate the night as those passing by bear witness to the annual tree lighting. The Crossroads Trolley will roll in at 10 a.m. on Saturday to shuttle shoppers to and from various shopping districts. The trolley will run throughout the morning and early afternoon, making stops at several downtown locations, Please see HOUSE | 5
Lee County was the difference. John Weddle rode an overwhelming support in his home precinct to defeat local candidate Arch Bullard 38,715 to 30,757 in the District Attorney race. Weddle, of Saltillo, was appointed to the District 1 position by Gov. Phil Bryant in June of this year. He took over the unexpired term of of Trent Kelly, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. On Tuesday, Weddle used an 8,008 difference in Lee County to win the seat. Weddle received
Total
Bullard
Weddle
69 percent of the vote (14,519) to Bullard’s 31 percent (6,511) in the Lee County box. Bullard, a former assistant district attorney under John R. Young, produced a strong showing in his home precinct. The Corinth resident collected 7,301
Bullard 7,301 2,303 6,511 4,972 3,201 3,131 3,338
Weddle 3,206 4,312 14,519 5,569 4,600 3,244 3,265
30,757 (44%) 38,715 (56%)
votes to Weddle’s 3,206. Bullard won only one other county in the seven-county district. He took Tishomingo County by a 3,338 to 3,265 margin. Weddle also won Itawamba (4,312-2,303), Monroe (5,5694,972), Pontotoc (4,600-3,201) and Prentiss (3,244-3,131) counties.
Selmer voters approve liquor referendums BY JEFF YORK For the Daily Corinthian
SELMER, Tenn. — Selmer voters approved liquor-by-thedrink and to legalize package stores in separate referendums in Tuesday’s city election. Both liquor votes passed with landslide margins.
The face of the Selmer city board will soon change dramatically with the addition of three new aldermen winning their first-ever terms. The three aldermen will help compose possibly the youngest city board in Selmer’s history. The vote to legalize package
stores won convincingly 505326 and the resolution to allow sale of liquor on premises passed in another landslide 505-326. John Austin, Nicky Atkins and J.T. Hawkins were elected from a field of six candidates to Please see LIQUOR | 5
25 years ago
10 years ago
Newly elected and re-elected city officials are sworn in. Mayor E.S. Bishop, Police Chief Jimmy Webb and aldermen Cliff Boatman, E.G. Holloway, Joe Sanders, Lex Mitchell and Barry Richards are among those taking the oath of office.
Alcorn County Supervisors set a special election for December on the question of liquor sales in the county. The referendum is put on the ballot after more than 2,300 residents sign a petition seeking the vote.
Gentleman Jack $ 99
25
Blue Ice Vodka $ 98 750 ML M
15
2015 Hwy 72 E. Corinth, MS. 38834 • 662-594-1877
Taaka $ 54
6
750 ML
Kraken Black Spiced Rum $ 99
25
1.75 L
Fireball $ 99
11
750 ML
Mon. - Sat. 10 A.M.- 9 P.M. • www.JRwinespirit.com